Branched polymers were prepared from the bifunctional 4,4'-diglycidylo
xy-2,2-diphenylpropane (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A) and hexafunct
ional poly(oxypropylene) diamine (Jeffamine T-403) at different distan
ces from the gel point in the absence and presence of a diluent. Polym
ers with different amounts of intramolecular cycles were prepared by d
ilution during polymerization of the epoxide system with diglyme/butan
ol mixed solvent. The static and dynamic light scattering from dilute
solutions of these epoxide samples was measured. The results are discu
ssed in terms of existing gelation theories. The critical exponents of
M(w) lie between the values predicted by the Flory-Stockmayer and per
colation theories and are shifted towards the percolation value with i
ncreasing fraction of intramolecular cycles. Polymer growth near the g
elation threshold is discussed.